Stream-control apparatus



June 1,1926. 5sz1s7- I J.A.SCHMUTTE STREAM CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Nov.11, 1922 13 I J 15 I 5 fi Q Q 6 A Fig.2.

INVENTOR LA.SCHMUTTE ATTORNEY.

l atented June 1, 1926.

UNITED STATES JACOB A. SGHMUTTE, OF CORNING, MISSOURI.

STREAM-CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed November 11, 1922. Serial No. 600,447.

My invention relates to an apparatus for producing artificial currentsin the water of a stream and is adapted for carrying outthe method ofcontrolling the course of streams described and claimed in Patent No.1,494,190 granted to me May 13, 1924. It may also be used for freeingthe stream of sand bars and for removing buried logs and snags whichwould otherwise constitute dangerous obstruction to navigation.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of apparatus madein accordance with my invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 isan enlarged top view of one of the agitators; Fig. 3 is a side View ofone of the agitators; and Fig. 4 is a plan View showing the position ofthe agitators.

5 indicates a boat which should be of small draft and may be propelledin any suitable manner, such as by paddle wheels 6. Carried by the boat5 are agitators 7, preferably three in number. One of these agitators issituated at the front of the boat and the other two at the sidesthereof. The front agitator is carried on a vertical shaft 8 and theother two on a pair of vertical shafts 9, all three of said shafts beingdriven by gearing 10. Each of the agitators comprises two blades 11,convex on one side and concave on the other. The blades are tapering, asbest shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that when rotated by the gearing 10 theywill produce downwardly-directed currents in the Water. Each of theagitators is preferably formed of two parts secured together by bolts orscrews 12 for convenience in placing them in position on the shafts 8and 9. In the drawings, I have shown the upper end of the shaft 8attached to a cable 13 passing over a pulley 1 1 on a mast 15 so thatthe front agitator may be raised and lowered. The shafts 9 may, ofcourse, be provided with similar adjusting means. It is, however, ofparticular importance that the front agitator be adjustable verticallysothat it may operate on portions of the river bed where the water istoo shallow to allow the passage of the boat.

The currents produced by the agitators 7 flow in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the bed of the stream, thus loosening thesandy material of which it is composed so that the said material may becarried away by gravity and the action of the current as described in mypatent above referred to. The device can also be used for removing sandbars and buried logs or snags. In the latter case, the boat is caused tohover over the log or snag so as to loosen the sand and sediment aroundthe same, thus permitting it to rise to the surface and float away.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vessel ofan agitator carried thereby and rotatable on a substantially verticalaxis, said agitator being positioned adjacent to the side of the vesseland being provided with curved blades tapering downwardly to concentratethe current produced.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vessel, ofan agitator carried adjacent to the side thereof, the blades of saidagitator being tapered in the direction of the length of its axis andcurved in a plane transverse thereto.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vessel, ofan agitator carried adjacent to the side thereof and rotatable on asubstantially vertical axis, the blades of said propeller being taperedin the direction of the length of its axis and curved in a planetransverse thereto.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vessel ofa plurality of agitators rotatable on verticle axes and located at thesides of the vessel, an agitator centrally located at the forward end ofthe vessel, and means for vertically adjusting said latter namedagitator.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and aflixed my seal.

JACOB A. SOHMUTTE. [L.S.]

